OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — As state and local governments across the nation deal with the aftermath of severe budget cuts prompted by the Great Recession, a Washington state lawmaker has come up with a plan to increase revenue without raising taxes: sell naming rights to publicly owned facilities — be they courts, water towers or schools.
The practice has been in place for decades, most prominently on sports venues.
But despite the potential to bring sorely needed cash, critics say that such deals could give the appearance that government and justice are for sale to the highest bidder.
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